It’s too early to tell whether the Reds, who were off Monday and start a three-game series at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, can contend for the National League Central Division title or a wild-card berth all season, but there are some encouraging signs. Here are three:
1. The offense continues to produce: The Reds lead baseball in runs (6.1) and home runs (1.6) per game. They have the fourth-best on-base percentage (.338).
“I think we’ve got a good lineup,” said first baseman Joey Votto on Friday after the Reds hit the 10-run mark for the fourth time. “When I’m sitting in the dugout watching the next batter or watching someone later in the lineup, I feel confident. I think we all do. We might be a talented lineup, and I don’t know if I can say much more than that. If we’re going to string together offense, it’s just talented guys handing the bat off to the next guy. It’s fun being a part of a lineup like this. I’m not sure if I’ve been a part of a lineup like this in my career so far. It’s very early. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”
2. Votto is starting to hit: He was hitting .184 through the first four series and raised his average to .268 by going 7-for-11 in three games against the Cleveland Indians.
“He’s been hitting the ball hard,” manager David Bell said Sunday. “Now he’s just seeing the ball better, getting deep into counts, walking a little bit and continuing to hit the ball hard. He’s mixed a few homers in there, too, in the last week. He’s in a great spot, and so is our team.”
3. Sonny Gray is back: Gray returned from the injured list Saturday and allowed two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Gray’s return means José De León will now pitch out of the bullpen. De León threw a scoreless inning of relief Saturday in a 3-2 victory against the Indians. In two starts, he had a 7.71 ERA.
Gray is scheduled to pitch again Friday in the opener of a three-game series on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Of his first start, Gray said, “I felt OK. I was very ready for the game. I felt there was a lot of room for improvement. My pitches were fine. Even the homer, I felt I executed the pitch, but I need to be better and I will be better.”
TUESDAY’S GAME
Diamondbacks at Reds, 6:40 p.m., Bally Sports Ohio, 700, 1410
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